Prophylactic package



Dec. 19, 1944. KARG 2,365,556

PROPHYLACTIC PACKAGE Filed March 12, 1941 W VI , MUM.

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Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROPHYLACTIC PACKAGEFrank G. Karg, Chicago, 111.

Application March 12, 1941, Serial No. 382,898

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in a prophylactic package, andmore specifically to a package for a prophylactic sheath of the typeuseful in covering an organ, extremity or appendage of the human body asa protection or for the prevention of disease.

In the past prophylactic sheaths have been packaged in many and variousways, but in every instance ofwhich I am aware when the package wasopened it was only possible to remove a prophylactic sheath as such,whether or not it was then in condition for use. In other words, thepackage merely contained one or more prophylactic sheaths, and if it wasnecessary to moisten the sheath before use as is the case with certaintypes of sheaths, it was necessary to find a liquid for that purpose.Likewise, if it was desired to use an antiseptic or a prophylactic, aproper medical compound had to be found in some separate location. Thenecessity of going to various sources for the desired product not onlyresulted in objectionable inconvenience, but frequently in the case ofthe antiseptic or prophylactic in the acquisition of an undesirabledisease, namely due to the fact that delay was experienced before theapplication of the antiseptic or prophylactic compound.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the presentinvention to provide a package containing a prophylactic sheath immersedin an antiseptic substance.

Another important object of the invention is the packaging of aso-called skin type prophylactic sheath in a moist substance.

Still another feature of this invention is the packaging of aprophylactic sheath in a manner such that the sheath is substantiallyfloatmg in a liquid or semiliquid.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a packagecontaining a prophylactic sheath substantially fioating in an antisepticsubstance, whereby it is a simple expedient to tear open the package andremove the prophylactic sheath ready for instant usage, that part of thebody covered by the sheath automatically receiving an application of anantiseptic substance simultaneously with the application of the sheathitself.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the provision of asimple easily carried package of paper-like material containing aprophylactic sheath and a liquid-like antiseptic substance, in such amanner that the sheath is constantly maintained in a moistened conditionby the substance.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the present invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a prophylactic package, showing the same withone cover flap raised, embodying principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view of the structureof Figure 1, showing the prophylactic sheath itself in elevation, andalso showing one of the cover flaps moved to open position;

Figure 3 is a package of the same general type as that shown in Figure1, but containing a different type of prophylactic sheath and a slightlydifferent type of substance; and

Figure 4 is a central vertical section, with a sheath shown inelevation, of the structure of Figure 3.

As shown on the drawing:

In that illustrated embodiment of this invention shown in Figures 1 and2, there is shown a package which includes an outer covering folded inits midsection as indicated at 5 to provide protective flaps 6 and Idisposed on opposite sides of the contents. This outer covering may bemade of paper or other suitable material.

Between the flaps 6 and 1 a sealed reservoir is disposed. This reservoiris made up of a pair of initially separate sheets 8 and 9 preferably ofsome substantially transparent material such as regenerated cellulose orthe-equivalent. Of course, the material used must be impervious toliquid. The two sheets 8 and 9 have the marginal portions thereofsecured together throughout the entire perimeter. This securement may beprovided by crimping the two sheets into tight association, and alongthe marginal portions the joint may be made liquid tight by the use of acementitious material, a thermoplastic fusible material, or in any othersuitable manner. That margin indicated by numeral H may include theinside sheaths 8 and 9 as well as the marginal portions of the flaps 6and 1 so that a substantially integral bond between the reservoir sheetsand the cover flaps is provided. No other securement means are thereforeneeded to hold the cover over the inner packet.

Inside the reservoir defined by sheets 8 and 9 is disposed aprophylactic sheath l2, in this in stance a rolled sheath of the latexor rubber type. As is apparent more particularly from the showing inFigure 2, the sheath is substantially floating in an antisepticsubstance indicated by numeral l3 which is preferably in a substantiallyliquid state.

Any suitable antiseptic substance may be used, and a satisfactorysubstance given by way of example is a substance now marketed under thename Merthiolate which is made up of the following ingredients: sodiumethyl mercury thiosalicylate, eucalypthol, eugenol, and a watersolublebase.

With the antiseptic substance packaged directly with the prophylacticsheath, it is a simple expedient to tear open the package, remove thesheath, apply it to a portion of the body, and that portion of the bodyis automatically antisepticized with the application of the sheath.

In Figures 3 and 4 I have shown substantially the same packingarrangement including the outer cover and the reservoir provided bysheets 8 and 9, as above described. In this instance, the change fromthe showing in Figures 1 and 2 resides in the contents of the package.

Within the reservoir defined by sheets 8 and 9 is a folded prophylacticsheath H of the so-called skin type. Such a sheath is substantiallyfioating in an antiseptic substance designated by numeral Hi. Thisantiseptic substance l may be substantially the same as above describedin connection with Figures 1 and 2, but in the specific illustratedinstance is shown as being of less consistency than the substance I3.This is due to the addition of glycerine mixed with the elements abovementioned in a water-soluble base such as gum tragacanth. With the skintype of sheath, glycerine may be used, but such may not be used with thelatex or rubber type sheath since it has a deleterious effect on therubber. I

Another advantage outside of the antiseptic benefit, is provided withthe package of Figures 3 and 4. A skin type prophylactic sheath must bemoistened before application to the body, and therefore the antisepticsubstance [5 performs a dual function in that it maintains the sheath inmoist condition ready for use and also antisepticizes with theapplication of the sheath.

It will be appreciated that herein and in the appended claims whereinthe sheath is spoken of and wherein the sheath is described assubstantially floating in a liquid-like substance, such description isto include any such arrangement wherein the sheath and substance are inthe same compartment in a manner that the sheath becomes coated orimpregnated with the substance whether or not an actually literalfloating or immersion status exists.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novelprophylactic package wherein a prophylactic sheath is maintainedmoistened or saturated with a liquid-like substance, pref 'erably anantiseptic substance, which package may be readily opened to remove thesheath, and the sheath is ready for instant use, and the body partcovered by the sheath is automatically antisepticized with theapplication ofthe sheath thereover. It will be noted that the packet isextremely light and easily carried, the flaps 6 and 1 of the outerwrapper projecting beyond the inner reservoir arrangement so that thestructure may be handled by the flaps, and both the reservoir definingsheets 8 and 9 as well as the outer wrapper may be readily torn toremove the contents.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A package comprising a first sheet of nonmetallic, thin, andwater-impervious material shaped to define an intermediate liquid-tightreservoir and a pair of oppositely directed end tabs, a prophylacticsheath in said reservoir, an antiseptic substance in said reservoir incontact with said sheath, means reinforcing one of said end tabs andproviding a finger hold, said means comprising a second elongated sheetof material having an intermediate portion folded about said one end taband secured thereto and having a pair of spaced opposed and similarlydirected end flaps disposed about said reservoir in protecting relationthereto.

FRANK G. KARG.

